In-form galloper Flamboyer has been installed the favourite for the Listed $100,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Mile (1600m) at Doomben on Saturday as he chases a hat trick of wins.
Flamboyer, above, is chasing a hat trick of wins in the Tattersall’s Mile at Doomben. Photo by Daniel Costello.
The Gold Coast trained Flamboyer found his recent winning form two starts back in the 1400m Class 6 Plate at Eagle Farm on June 25 and then followed that up with a win in the Listed $175,000 HMR Projects Pty Ltd Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast on July 2.
In a very congested market order Ladbrokes.com.au have placed Flamboyer at the top of the betting at $4.20, firming in from $5, just ahead of the Robert Heathcote trained Lauterbrunnen at $5 and Victorian visitor Akavoroun at $5.50.
Three of the remaining eight runners are also under the $10 mark with Harada Bay $6.50 ahead of Feltre at $7 and Brettan at $8.50.
Trainer Kelly Doughty attributes Flamboyer’s recent winning form to the blinkers being replaced by a set of winkers which has helped the front runner settle better in his races.
Flamboyer has had two unplaced attempts at the 1600m in the past but Doughty thinks that the way the five year is racing at the moment, he should be able to handle the step back up to the ‘mile’and collect his hat trick.
“He’s racing a lot more relaxed now since we took the blinkers off and used winkers on him at the start of this campaign,” Doughty said.
“He settles a lot better now when he gets to the front and is a lot more mature than when he was tried over the distance last time.
“He’s got barrier one which is nice and if he runs the distance, which I’m confident he will, he’ll be very hard to beat.”
Premiership front runner Jeff Lloyd steered Flamboyer to victory at the Sunshine Coast and has the mount again in the Tattersall’s Mile and should have no trouble letting the five year old take up his favourite position in front from barrier one.
Doughty considers the John and Chris Meagher trained Harada Bay as the hardest to beat coming off a last start win over this track and distance on July 9.
Harada Bay has drawn awkwardly at barrier eleven in the twelve horse field with Luke Dittman retaining the mount.
The Ciaron Maher trained Akavoroun ran second to Harada Bay at Doomben last start but has to overcome the outside gate with Damian Browne in the saddle again.
